The Yankees plan to add two starting pitchers and multiple bullpen pieces this offseason, and we could see action sooner than later.
Several agents and executives have privately expressed a belief that the free agent pitching market will move much faster than it did last season.
Mutual interest remains between the Yankees and Patrick Corbin. Keep your eye on that one, though both sides have other options. Our impression is that Corbin could sign somewhere before long. The Yanks and J.A. Happ are also still interested in a reunion.
On the trade front, Seattle's James Paxton is a more realistic target than Cleveland ace Corey Kluber. Rivals see the Mariners as highly motivated to move Paxton, in whom the Yankees are interested - and are skeptical that the Indians will ultimately part with Kluber.
Still, Indians president Chris Antonetti made clear during an MLB Network radio appearance Tuesday that he is considering all options.
"I wouldn't characterize it as we're trading Corey Kluber," Antonetti told Inside Pitch hosts Casey Stern and Matt Diaz.
"More importantly for us is how do we balance that objective of where we are right now, building the best team for 2019, but also make sure we're planning for success for years to come. And sometimes that means weighing, not necessarily making those decisions, but weighing maybe trading from an area of depth to address a longer-term area of need … but I can tell you our priority remains on winning and trying to get to the postseason in 2019."
Allow us to translate from exec-speak: They're listening to offers for their pitchers [including from the Yankees], but hardly committed to accepting one.